Wisconsin

Newly Released Independent Report Confirms Job Creation Potential of Clean Energy Policies

March 04, 2010 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today the release of an independent evaluation that shows Wisconsin’s clean energy programs through Focus on Energy have added more than 5,000 jobs and more than $1 billion to Wisconsin’s economy since the program began in 2001.    » read more »

March 04, 2010 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today that Wisconsin will not receive first-round federal Race to the Top funding. Governor Doyle, State Superintendent Tony Evers and Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines made the announcement today in Milwaukee and renewed the call to move forward meaningful reform in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS).    » read more »

Recovery Act Will Build Milwaukee-Madison Route and Upgrade Milwaukee-Chicago Line

January 28, 2010 -- MILWAUKEE – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced Wisconsin is receiving $823 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to build high-speed passenger rail service, creating thousands of jobs.    » read more »

1/28/10 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold today announced that Wisconsin's high-speed rail projects will receive $822 million in federal stimulus funds. Of that total, $810 million will be directed to the Madison-Milwaukee corridor and $12 million to the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) included $8 billion for high-speed rail projects. This $8 billion was designated for capital projects, and included three types of competitive discretionary rail grant programs – one of which was for high-speed rail corridor development grants.    » read more »

High Speed Rail: Chicago-Twin Cities

January 27, 2010 -- The corridor stretching from the Twin Cities to Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago is an essential segment of the Midwest rail system. However, there is currently no passenger rail service between Milwaukee and Madison, the two largest metropolitan areas in Wisconsin.

Using grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), intercity passenger rail service will be established between Milwaukee and Madison with stops in Brookeld, Oconomowoc, and Watertown at speeds of up to 110 mph. Service is expected by 2013.

Awardees: Wisconsin Department of Transportation; Minnesota Department of Transportation

Total Approximate Funding (entire corridor): $823,000,000    » read more »

Lawsuit Seeks to Restore Lost Competition in Sale of Milk to School Districts and Retailers in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin

January 22, 2010 -- WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today against Dean Foods Company challenging its April 2009 acquisition of Foremost Farms USA’s Consumer Products Division. The department said that the merger eliminates substantial competition between the two companies in the sale of milk to schools, grocery stores, convenience stores and other retailers in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.    » read more »

Kohl Urges Secretary Of Transportation To Fund Wisconsin High Speed Rail Project

1/21/10 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Herb Kohl today called Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to push for federal high speed rail funding for Wisconsin.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) included $8 billion for high-speed rail projects. This $8 billion was designated for capital projects, and included three types of competitive discretionary rail grant programs – one of which was for high-speed rail corridor development grants.    » read more »

Feingold Praises Justice Department Blocking Of Anti-Competitive Dean Foods Merger

January 22, 2010 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold stated his support today for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) move to block the acquisition of Foremost Farms by Dean Foods, which would have led to a single company dominating the market for fluid milk in parts of Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan.

In May 2009, Feingold, a long-time advocate for more competition in the dairy industry, flagged the possible acquisition for the Justice Department’s Antitrust division including concerns about how the acquisition could affect school lunch programs in Wisconsin. Following the Justice Department’s announced intervention, Feingold released the following statement:    » read more »

Congressman is working closely with White House, Departments of State and Homeland Security to help unite children with their families

January 18, 2010 -- APPLETON, WI -- Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. continues to work diligently to bring adopted children trapped in Haiti home to their parents in Northeast Wisconsin.

Last week, Dr. Kagen learned of several cases in his district where families have adopted Haitian children who remain in the country recently devastated by disaster. The Congressman is personally in touch with each family affected, and members of his staff are tracking each case closely and updating the families daily with the latest information on their individual situation.    » read more »

Statement by Ron Burke, Union of Concerned Scientists

CHICAGO (January 7, 2010) – Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle today announced the Clean Energy Jobs Act, a bill that incorporates many of the recommendations made by the governor's Climate Change Task Force. The Clean Energy Jobs Act would increase Wisconsin's use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, cleaner fuels and cleaner cars.

Below is a statement by Ron Burke, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' (UCS) Chicago office.    » read more »

Announces Installation of Solar Panels on State Capitol; Also Announces DATCP Headquarters has Achieved LEED-EB Silver Certification

December 04, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today joined energy industry leaders to launch the installation of photovoltaic, solar electric panels on the State Capitol rooftop as part of a project to raise public awareness of renewable energy and to increase energy efficiency throughout the State Capitol Building.

Today’s event marked one in a series of steps to push the state toward Governor Doyle’s ambitious renewable energy goals.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- TEL AVIV, Israel – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today signed a bilateral collaborative trade agreement between Israel and Wisconsin on research and development. The agreement, signed by Governor Doyle and Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Ben-Eliezer, promotes collaboration and a strong working relationship between Wisconsin and Israel in research and development.

“Wisconsin and Israel share a strong past and a bright future in research and technology development,” Governor Doyle said. “This agreement creates an important framework for Israel’s and Wisconsin’s scientists, engineers and researchers to embark on ground-breaking research and development in many promising fields, especially water technology.“    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced a significant decrease in tobacco sales to Wisconsin minors. The state’s 2009 Synar sales compliance survey, which determines the number of retail outlets that are selling tobacco illegally to minors, shows a noncompliance rate of 5.7 percent—20 percent lower than the 2008 rate of 7.2 percent.

“In Wisconsin, we are working hard to protect our kids from the scourge of tobacco,” Governor Doyle said. “Our state has a long history of preventing youth tobacco sales and I’m pleased our efforts are paying off.”

Governor Doyle also thanked retailers for helping keep tobacco out of the hands of minors and for their dedication to protecting young people from tobacco’s harmful effects.    » read more »

10.1 percent of households in Wisconsin faced food insecurity from 2006-08

November 16, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) -- Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) commented on the numbers released by the United States Department of Agriculture today tracking the food security of American households for 2008. Food security refers to a household’s consistent ability to access enough food for active, healthy lives for all household members at all times during the year.

The USDA study found that in 2008, 14.6 percent (17 million) households were food insecure, which means that eating patterns of a family were altered or disrupted because of insufficient resources for food.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) -- Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) today announced that Milwaukee will receive $5,839,100 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Recovery Act. These funds are intended to create local green jobs and help improve energy efficiency in communities across the country by reducing energy use and fossil fuel emissions.    » read more »